Nursery Rhymes

Remember how your parents taught you nursery rhymes when you were a little kid? Or maybe your teacher back then made you learn them?

Most of us had gone through that experience. But really, did we bother to actually understand what the nursery rhymes are all about?

Not me.

Not until recently.

Now, I realize how most of the popular nursery rhymes are really, really morbid and depressing.

Let's talk about a few that I can think of right now.

Jack and Jill

"Jack and Jill

Went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down

And broke his crown

And Jill came tumbling after"

Poor Jack and Jill have to actually climb up a hill just to fetch a pail of water. Like that's not bad enough, Jack had to fall and BROKE his crown (ouch!) and Jill came falling down too.

Humpty Dumpty

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put Humpty together again!"

So what, the egg is dead?

Rock-a-bye Baby

"Rock a bye baby on the tree top,

When the wind blows the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all."

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Dead baby.

Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe

"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.

She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.

She gave them some broth,

Without any bread,

Whipped them all soundly, and sent them to bed."

Nevermind the fact that the whole family lives in a shoe. Nevermind the fact that she had so many children. Nevermind the fact that the old woman couldn't afford any bread. But whipping her so-many-children soundly before sending them to bed? What, being hungry is not enough?

Little Jack Horner

"Little Jack Horner sat in a corner,

Eating his Christmas pie.

He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum

And said, "What a good boy am I!""

Okay-lah, given that this is not as morbid. But putting your thumb into your Christmas pie and saying you're a good boy... Come again? What's so good about playing with your food?

Right... Those are but a few, and already they sound pretty sad. There are a lot more out there, but at this point of time I'm feeling kinda lazy. :P

So parents and parents-to-be, be careful what you teach your child!